Mark Ford is an American marimba artist, percussionist, composer, and educator. His career combines solo and ensemble performance with the creation of music used widely in university and school percussion programs. He has appeared as a clinician and guest artist while maintaining a long-term role in percussion education.
Ford's compositions include the solo-marimba works Polaris and Marimba Heritage and the percussion-ensemble works Stubernic and Head Talk. His publications also include Marimba: Technique Through Music and other studies designed to connect technical development with musical repertoire. These compositions and methods have made his work familiar to several generations of percussion students.
Ford is Professor in Instrumental Studies and Coordinator of Percussion at the University of North Texas (as of July 15, 2026), and a past president of the Percussive Arts Society.